SEC+ Bonus: SEC dominance in the NFL draft

While, in today's episode of SEC+, I opined that the SEC is not so superior to the rest of college football that a one-loss SEC team should get into the BCS championship game over an undefeated Big Ten champion, it is clear that the SEC is still the best conference in college football.

Want proof?

Look at the NFL draft, where last year the SEC produced a quarter of all drafted players -- 63. That's more than double the output of any other single conference.

It's looking like that trend will continue.

Using the projections of CBS Sports' two NFL Draft Scouts' mock drafts and the rankings by ESPN's Scouts, Inc., I found 15 SEC players that are being projected by at least one of those three sources as being picked in the first round this offseason. I used a mix of "big board" player rankings and mock draft evaluations to get a cross of how players are thought of overall and where they are projected to be drafted (two slightly different things).

If all 15 were to be taken -- a highly unlikely, but possible, scenario -- that would be just under half the first round coming out of one conference.

Here are the potential NFL first-rounders, using those sources:

1. OT Jake Matthews, Texas A&M: Projected to be the No. 2 pick in both of the NFL Draft Scout mock drafts, Mathews follows Luke Joeckel as the next dominant offensive lineman to come out of College Station.

Jadeveon Clowney (7) is the top-rated player on most draft boards, but that does not mean he'll be the first pick in the NFL draft. (AP Photo)

2. DE Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina: The No. 1 player on the Scouts, Inc. board -- and most boards -- is projected as the No. 4 pick in both of the NFL Draft Scout mock drafts. Many thought he'd be the No. 1 pick coming into the year, but a decline in production has hurt him, although he still shows flashes of dominance.

3. LB C.J. Mosley, Alabama: He ranges from the No. 6 overall prospect in Scouts, Inc. to the No. 20 pick in one of the mock drafts. He's noted for his toughness, leadership and keen instincts.

4. WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M: The big receiver does well in the mock drafts, going as high as No. 7. But he's slipped to No. 23 in the Scouts, Inc. rankings, perhaps the result of a late-season slide that saw him get covered effectively by both LSU's Rashard Robinson and Missouri's E.J. Gaines. There has been some speculation that he'll be a hybrid tight end at the pro level.

5. OT Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama: Touted as a future Pro Bowl left tackle, the Alabama junior should come out early and become the second SEC left tackle to get drafted early in the draft after Matthews. His projections range from No. 9 in one mock draft to the No. 16 overall prospect in Scouts, Inc.

6. QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M: There's always been a concern that at 6-foot-nothing (and that might be stretching it), Manziel's NFL future is less than his Heisman Trophy-winning past. Despite that, the projections have him going anywhere from No. 6 in one mock draft (to the Minnesota Vikings, which is interesting considering the comparisons between Manziel and Vikings great Fran Tarkenton) to No. 20 by Scouts, Inc.

7. S HaHa Clinton-Dix, Alabama: Despite some late-season struggles -- particularly against Auburn when he was caught out of position a few times -- many project him as the top safety on the board. He projects between the No. 14 pick in one mock draft to No. 22 in another.

8. WR Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt: Consistently rated as a late first-round pick (anywhere from No. 26 to 29 in the three sources), Matthews is all-around solid -- pretty big, adequately fast and with an ability to snag the ball -- but lacks any elite physical trait. The SEC's all-time leading receiver is often described as a better player than prospect.

9. DT Dominique Easley, Florida: Despite suffering a season-ending injury to his right knee, Easley is still the No. 17 prospect on Scouts, Inc.'s board. Big and athletic, he was easily the top defensive tackle coming out of the SEC this year before the injury.

10. CB Marcus Roberson, Florida: Despite battling injuries at times this year, Scouts, Inc. still has Roberson as the No. 22 overall prospect. Certainly, when healthy, the 6-footer with fluid hips has elite coverage skills.

11. OT Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M: If Ogbuehi enters the draft -- he's a fourth-year junior -- and goes in the first round as one of the mock drafts projects, perhaps we should call A&M "OTU" with Matthews projected to go in the first few picks a year after Luke Joeckel went with the second overall pick in 2013. Ogbuehi would be the third A&M offensive tackle to be a first-round pick in two years if he's taken that high (and assuming he leaves school).

12. CB Loucheiz Purifoy, Florida: With Roberson banged up at times this season, many thought Purifoy was the top cover corner in the SEC. Certainly, Purifoy displayed good coverage skills and explosive athleticism, but he was never an overly productive college player. Still, Scouts, Inc. has him as the No. 27 player on the board.

13. DT Ego Ferguson, LSU: While teammate Anthony Johnson was supposed to be the big name coming off the board at the position for the Tigers, Ferguson had a better year and checked in at No. 29 in Rob Rang's mock draft.

14. DE Kony Ealy, Missouri: If somebody is looking for a pass-rushing end late in the first round, Ealy will evidently be available and one mock draft has him going with the 31st pick. He's generally considered the second defensive end at Missouri behind Michael Sam, but his superior size (6-foot-5, 277 pounds) might make him a better NFL prospect than his teammate.

15. C Travis Swanson, Arkansas: Generally considered one of the top two centers in the draft, Swanson projects to go in the first round in one of the mock drafts. The biggest question with Swanson is, will anybody pick a center in the first round?